USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg counts down to the start of the college football season team by team from No. 128 to No. 1.

It's been three seasons since Virginia's last win – you know, fall, winter, spring and so on.

The Cavaliers' most recent version was the sort of team that could gain 505 yards of total offense, force three turnovers, commit zero turnovers, rack up 29 first downs and control the clock for nearly 38 minutes but still lose, as was the case in a 27-26 setback to rival-no-more Maryland on Oct. 12.

In the wider view, this has become the sort of program that wins as many games in the fall as five-star prospects it signs in February – two. That UVa reeled in difference-making talent speaks to the recruiting pedigree seen on this coaching staff; that UVa hasn't won a game in Atlantic Coast Conference play since 2012 speaks to something else altogether, of course.

This is going to sting: Virginia has one winning season since 2008; Virginia Tech hasn't suffered a losing season since 1992. UVa is nine years removed from the program's last bowl win, seven years removed from its last winning streak of more than four games and just shy of two decades removed from the second of the Cavaliers' two shared ACC titles.

How many ACC teams have failed to reach the postseason in each of the last two seasons? Two: UVa and Wake Forest. How many major-conference programs? Eleven: Wake Forest, Kansas, Indiana, Illinois, California, Utah, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas and Virginia. How many of these same programs have failed to reach at least two bowls during the last six years?

Four: Kansas, Indiana, Colorado and Virginia.

When it comes to major-conference college football, you do not want to be part of any club that would have Kansas, Indiana and recent-days Colorado as a member. So if better days in Charlottesville do lie ahead, as some have suggested, that may be only by default.

LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION:

When it comes to today, a team with this much inexperience under center, this questionable an offensive front and a recent history of failure in the turnover margin can't be taken seriously as anything more than a fringe bowl team. In addition, there's little doubt that this year's team is stronger than last year's version, not to mention stronger along the sidelines. It'd be foolish to say UVa is destined for another year on the outskirts of the ACC, like a season ago, but I can't say with any confidence that UVa has what it takes to do more than challenge for bowl eligibility.

2013 RECAP:

In a nutshell: Removing VMI from the equation helps to underline Virginia's horridness. The Cavaliers held the Keydets to 79 yards on 56 plays and pitched a shutout in September's laugher; take that away and UVa ranked 98th nationally in yards allowed per game, sandwiched between behemoth-like Kansas and powerful UNLV, and 110th in scoring, just in front of Georgia State. The offense racked up 580 yards and 49 points; erase those totals and Virginia plummets to 108th in yards per game, smack between Akron and Minnesota, and 119th in scoring, decimal points ahead of Southern Mississippi. Misleading? Not really: Virginia was horrible. If your glass remains half full – or wet with moisture, period – each of the Cavaliers' 11 Football Bowl Subdivision opponents did reach the postseason. Two victories means you celebrate the small victories.

High point: Beating Brigham Young in the opener. Those who favor the ACC's decision to not include BYU among its mandated non-league games against Power Five competition cite the following argument: Why would the Cougars count when they can't even beat UVa?

Low point: Put the final nine games of the year into a hat, add a 59-10 loss to Oregon – might as well have been 590-10 – and pick away.

Tidbit: Remember how each of the Cavaliers' 11 FBS foes reached bowl eligibility? That's important to keep in mind, as is this: UVa played only eight seniors last fall, tied with UCF for the second-fewest in the country. Only South Carolina played fewer; the Gamecocks used only five, believe it or not.

Tidbit (recruiting edition): February's recruiting class included a pair of five-star prospects, making Virginia one of eight programs to sign more than one five-star recruit, as rated by Rivals.com. The rest: Alabama with six; Auburn, Florida State and Texas A&M with three; and the Cavaliers, USC, LSU and Tennessee with two.

Tidbit (Commonwealth Cup edition): The latest verse was just like the first. Oh, and the next eight after that. Virginia has now lost 10 in a row to rival Virginia Tech in the end-of-year Commonwealth Cup, making this the most lopsided in-state rivalry in the FBS. The Hokies have won 14 of 15, in fact, losing in 2003, and only three of these victories – 2008, 2012 and 2013 – have come by less than 12 points.

Offense: With the one-year experiment with David Watford over – he struggled, to put it lightly – Virginia has tossed the reins to sophomore Greyson Lambert, a ballyhooed recruit who made a potential quarterback controversy into Mike London's easiest decision of the offseason. Let's just say it as simply as possible: Lambert is – and certainly was during the spring – Virginia's best option under center, giving this offense its best chance for success despite the lingering issues up front and at wide receiver. So why the change from last spring, when Lambert was similarly the most impressive quarterback in a three-man competition? Maybe London and his offensive staff saw the light; maybe, and this is more likely, last year's disaster at the position finally swayed the staff to right a wrong and put Lambert in the starting position.

Oh, and this is obvious: Lambert is an upgrade – and yeah, it can't get any worse. He won't throw 15 interceptions, fingers crossed; he will complete passes at a higher clip and will push the ball downfield, two major impediments to a viable passing game a season ago. The best news? Lambert is not only a physical upgrade – if not Watford's equal with his legs – but has also embraced a leadership role within this offense, and it's been several years since the Cavaliers' attack took its cue from the starting quarterback. It's going to take time, not to mention patience, but Lambert gives UVa a glimmer of hope at one of the most underachieving positions in recent ACC play. Now he'll need some help from his supporting cast.

Virginia's coaches have set a firm course at quarterback, which means sophomore Greyson Lambert is taking over the starting reins.(Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

He'll get help from the backfield. The most intriguing aspect of UVa's running game centers on how London and coordinator Steve Fairchild use sophomore Taquan Mizzell (184 yards), a former five-star recruit with enough talent to earn a role in some capacity within the framework of this offense – perhaps not as a traditional back in 2014, but certainly as a weapon UVa must promote in space, whether coming out of the backfield or in the slot. Put simply, UVa would do itself a tremendous disservice in not finding some specific packages to take advantage of the sophomore's skill set. An every-down role isn't available, however: UVa returns seniors Kevin Parks (1,031 yards) – even better than his numbers indicate, by the way – and Khalek Shepherd (304 yards), and both should continue to lead the way in the Cavaliers' conventional ground attack. On an offense brimming with question marks, UVa's backfield is a trustworthy and reliable breath of fresh air.

I'm very worried about this offensive front – a disaster a year ago even with Morgan Moses on the blind side. Whether the Cavaliers turn the corner depends on three factors: one, whether junior Jay Whitmire is ready for left tackle even after missing a portion of spring drills; two, whether sophomore Eric Smith can hold down the fort at right tackle, a concern even if he brings solid potential to the table; and three, whether a largely inexperienced line – only two seniors in the two-deep – can survive a rough-and-tumble 12-game stretch. I'm not convinced. Senior left guard Conner Davis must prove he can stay healthy. Sophomore center Eric Tetlow must replace an underrated multiple-year contributor in Luke Bowanko; he won't thrive in the middle as a first-year starter. Junior right guard Ross Burbank quickly fell out of favor last fall after being handed the opportunity to grab a starting job along the interior. Where's the good news? In a positive vein, this group is young enough to develop nicely during the course of the coming season. But as of today, I'd bet on UCLA, Brigham Young and a good portion of the ACC eating their lunch.

Defense: This defense provides cause for optimism. The best news: Virginia now has the depth and experience to run Jon Tenuta's system to the fullest, giving the experienced coordinator the weapons he needs to roll out one of the conference's most aggressive schemes. This depth is clearest along the defensive line even with two starters lost to graduation; that this pair – Brent Urban and Jake Snyder – are the lone starters off the table supplies further reason for celebration. Four-star prospects abound, as do those of the five-star variety; a potential All-American dots the two-deep in the secondary; young players are ready for increased roles; overall comfort has increased in Tenuta's scheme. All is good on defense, at least.

The line's two returning starters are very much in the all-conference conversation. One, junior Eli Harold (51 tackles, 8.5 sacks), is as quick off the line as any end in the ACC; the second, tackle David Dean (49 tackles, 7.5 for loss), could be even more productive if given additional time to breathe, as will be the case in 2014. The Cavaliers are deep along the interior: Dean will start, likely joined by sophomore Donte Wilkins for the opener, but it's merely a matter of time before five-star freshman Andrew Brown asserts his place in the starting lineup – he's already proven himself to the staff, thanks to his early enrollment. In addition, UVa's interior rotation can call on sophomore Andre Miles-Redmond and senior Greg Gallop and Chris Braithwaite. At end, the Cavaliers will augment Harold's production with juniors Mike Moore and Kwontie Moore, larger bodies capable of holding the point of attack against the run.

A secondary headlined by senior strong safety Anthony Harris (80 tackles, 8 interceptions) will reap the benefits. Two storylines to watch: one, Quin Blanding's arrival, and two, the potential for additional competition at cornerback come fall camp. As for the former, Blanding could quickly move past senior Brandon Phelps and grab the starting job at free safety; one can't imagine a better way for a five-star freshman to learn the ropes than alongside Harris, one of the nation's premier returning defensive backs. On the outside, senior Demetrious Nicholson may need to fend off a number of underclassmen challengers to retain his starting job – and there are several sophomores, led by Tim Harris, angling for an increased role in the secondary. For now, the starting quartet flanks Harris and Phelps with Nicholson and junior Maurice Canady. That may very well change in August – outside of Harris, of course.

Relative to the depth up front and the potential along the back end, UVa's weak link is at linebacker. One player stands out: Max Valles has flashed play-wrecking tendencies on the strong side, working beautifully in concert with Harold's speed off the edges, but must develop a more all-around game before being viewed as an every-down linebacker. If not as dangerous as Valles, both Daquan Romero (89 tackles, 7.5 for loss) and Henry Coley (91 tackles, 10.0 for loss) are reliable – steady, in other words, and there's nothing wrong with a taste of consistency in the middle and on the weak side. But unlike the defensive front, the Cavaliers' depth at linebacker is lacking.

Virginia linebacker Daquan Romero closes in on a tackle of Virginia Tech's Trey Edmunds in a game last Nov. 30.(Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)

Special teams: One small change: Ian Frye is poised to become UVa's full-time kicker, supplanting Alex Vozenilek, who will be freed to work solely on punting. This decision may give the Cavaliers more reliability on attempts outside of 40 yards; Vozenilek was questionable on longer tries last fall, so the hope is that Frye helps bail out this offense should it sputter inside opposing territory. The Cavaliers have been subpar in the return game, but a surplus of young talent at the offensive skill positions could lead to a subtle improvement. Coverage teams, on the other hand, must be addressed.

With continued progress, Keeon Johnson could develop into a star at wide receiver for Virginia.(Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

POSITION(S) TO WATCH:

Wide receiver: Losing tight end Jake McGee will lead this offense into more three-receiver sets, a move that helps offset McGee's departure – expected, but still painful – while supplying playing time for a number of talented underclassmen. At the same time, Virginia may need to continue to rely on seniors to help carry the water while the youthful core develops; the issue here is that, well, the seniors aren't the best receivers on the roster. The best targets at Lambert's disposal are youngsters: Keeon Johnson (20 receptions for 282 yards), for one, and he could develop into a star, along with Kyle Dockins, Canaan Severin, Andre Levrone and incoming freshman Jamil Kamara, to name a few others. What do these underclassmen bring to the table? Size, athleticism, a burst and ample potential, factors important enough to push seniors Darius Jennings (38 for 340) and Dominique Terrell (14 for 107) either into the slot or deeper down the pecking order altogether. What do you get when you hand a sophomore quarterback a receiver corps loaded with largely unproven, inexperienced, raw freshmen and sophomores? Well, either you get boom – a possibility, to be honest – or you get bust. Watching these receivers develop in tandem with Lambert will be exciting; it may also be painful.

GAME(S) TO WATCH:

Kent State: UVa opens with UCLA, hosts Richmond, hosts ACC newcomer Louisville and then heads to Brigham Young before closing September with the Golden Flashes. Given the nature of this conference slate – Duke, Virginia Tech and Florida State on the road – the Cavaliers' bowl chances hinge on how they fare in this opening five-game stretch. In my mind, it'll take at least three wins to remain in the postseason hunt. UVa hasn't won in Blacksburg since 1998.

SEASON BREAKDOWN & PREDICTION:

In a nutshell: Begin with the positives. Handing the quarterback job to Lambert is a good decision today – he's an immediate upgrade – and a great decision in the long run, since he has the skill set to develop into a top-half starter in the ACC. As a whole, Virginia's defense has enough depth and talent to carry the Cavaliers to several wins during conference play, particularly against teams like Miami (Fla.), Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh. The backfield is a strength; there's enough depth for one option to get squeezed out of touches, though Fairchild must make sure Mizzell remains a focal point of the entire offensive blueprint. In total, London and his staff have accumulated enough talent to turn the page on one of the dreariest seasons in program history.

The issues are equally obvious. One is the offensive line: UVa's young quarterback and promising ground game could scuffle enormously due to the inexperience and lack of adequate depth from tackle to tackle. Another is the receiver corps: Virginia has bodies, true, but you're banking on a number of underclassmen playing beyond their years – possible, of course, but that's a tall order. To be truly successful, this offense must unite a solid front and a productive passing game with relatively error-free football. What are the odds?

And what if this team falls flat early – as could be the case, given the nature of UVa's schedule? Then you're looking at a scenario where a team already short on confidence disintegrates before the calendar turns to the heart of ACC play; if that occurs, then you're looking at a coaching change. I'm simply not optimistic about the Cavaliers' chances at a one-year turnaround. Four wins? That should be doable. Five seems attainable. Six? Again, I don't have a great feeling. London has reversed the tide once before; whether he can do so again will determine the direction of the program in 2015 and beyond.

Dream season: An upset against UCLA sends Virginia skyrocketing to an eight-win finish, buying London more time and leading to yet another sterling recruiting class.

Nightmare season: The Cavaliers notch only September wins against Richmond and Kent State.

UP NEXT:

Who's No. 94? This university's home city was first incorporated as a village in the same year as when the 25th state joined the Union.

PHOTOS: RANKING EVERY FBS TEAM FOR 2014

No. 128 UMass: The Minutemen have a new coach, Mark Whipple, but the same outlook on what should be a dismal 2014 season. Even in a Mid-American Conference without viable contenders outside the top four, UMass is a long shot to win more than one game during the regular season. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 127 Florida International: One season after playing the worst football of its Football Bowl Subdivision existence, FIU attempts to rebound under second-year coach Ron Turner. The Golden Panthers would need to take three significant steps forward to merely contend in Conference USA. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 126 Eastern Michigan: Chris Creighton steps into Ypsilanti and assumes one of the toughest coaching jobs in the country. The Eagles’ new coach will have a promising young quarterback to work with but not much else. It’s going to be another down season for EMU. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 125 Georgia State: Georgia State is no longer the worst program in the country, which is a good start. Next, GSU must embrace Trent Miles’ approach on both sides of the ball while the staff adds talent on the recruiting trail. The future might still hold promise, but this year’s team is only slightly improved compared to last year’s version. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 124 Georgia Southern: One of the nation’s newest Football Bowl Subdivision brings a history of success and last year’s win against Florida to the table. But Georgia Southern is still undergoing a coaching change while adapting to the heightened level of competition, two factors that set the bar low for 2014. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 123 Hawaii: The goodwill has run out on Norm Chow, who has coached Hawaii through its worst two-year stretch in decades. To improve, the Warriors need to locate a quarterback and find a pulse on defense to match with the rest of the Mountain West Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 122 Miami (Ohio): A program built on a history of successful coaching hires now hands the reins to former Notre Dame assistant Chuck Martin. While he’s an upgrade on the sidelines, Martin is going to need at least two years to rebuild the RedHawks from the bottom up. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 121 Idaho:
Paul Petrino’s fiery style and offensive mindset has fit well into the Vandals’ underdog mentality, but drive and hunger will only get you so far without the talent needed to win more than three games during the regular season. Idaho’s offense is better, but the team as a whole still lags. That talent took another hit on July 20 when Dezmon Epps (1) was kicked off the team in the wake of a DUI. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 120 UAB: This program is excited about its potential under Bill Clark, who replaces Garrick McGee, but Clark has his hands full with a roster and program beaten down by a miserable decade. If the Blazers do exceed expectations, Clark’s ability to maximize his roster will be the cause. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 119 Appalachian State: This program moves up a level after a surprisingly ineffective final year in the Football Championship Subdivision. To rebound, the Mountaineers need to rely on a pair of sophomores at quarterback and running back. While the promise is there, the first year could be ugly. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 118 Army: Go Army, beat Navy. But first, the Cadets must prove they can beat any team on the 2014 schedule. A coaching change helps, but Todd Monken needs to roll up his sleeves and bring back some toughness to a program too accustomed to season-ending losses to the rival Midshipmen. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 117 Western Michigan: P.J. Fleck and the Western Michigan staff can recruit, but can they coach? The jury’s still out after a 1-11 season, and even if talent is on the way it’s hard to imagine the new freshmen immediately reversing the Broncos’ slide to the bottom of the Mid-American Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 116 California: Cal’s shortage of talent, experience and depth makes the Golden Bears the weakest major-conference program in the country. Playing in the Pac-12 doesn’t help. In terms of a positive, Sonny Dykes has found his quarterback and has accumulated enough receivers to make this passing game work. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 115 New Mexico State: The schedule will paint a better picture, but New Mexico State remains one of the weaker programs in the country. Even if the Aggies squeeze out four wins, they are devoid of the sort of difference-making talent to contend for a top-five finish in the Sun Belt Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 114 UTEP: The Miners need to remain healthy after a season ravaged by injuries. Second-year coach Sean Kugler can’t control injuries, but he’s on the hook for one of the worst defenses in college football. Helping matters is an offense led by quarterback Jameill Showers, but it won’t be enough. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 113 Southern Mississippi: With a long losing streak over, the Golden Eagles can look forward to this fall on a high note. Optimism helps, but to regain a foothold in Conference USA the Eagles must do a better job protecting the football and limiting big plays on defense. The outlook is still pessimistic. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 112 Kansas: Charlie Weis enters his third year at Kansas with little hope of bringing the Jayhawks out of the Big 12 cellar. The offense lacks skill players, has no help up front and a rookie at quarterback. The defense could be a nice story, but only if the pass rush improves. As is, KU is the weakest team in the league. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 111 UNLV: The team must continue last year’s push without the opportunity to reach another bowl game, thanks to an NCAA postseason ban. While the talent is there, Bobby Hauck and the Rebels could struggle matching last season’s finish without any hopes of playing into December. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 110 New Mexico: Three years after his arrival, Bob Davie has successfully added the depth needed to reach the postseason. But New Mexico’s questionable defense, shortage of experience on both sides of the ball and lack of balance on defense should prevent the Lobos from breaking through to six wins. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 109 Tulane: The program's biggest issue will be the increased level of difficulty with the move from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference. Another concern is a roster that lacks the experience and proven production needed to run with teams like UCF, Cincinnati and Houston. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 108 Purdue: This team is at least another full season away from being considered more than an afterthought in the Big Ten. One issue is talent: Purdue has none. Another is the feeling that this program is headed on a downturn due to years of coaching missteps and mismanagement. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

107 Kent State: With big gaps in the backfield and defensive tackle, Kent State will need a team effort to move back into bowl play. That won’t happen unless the offense locates a receiver, the defense lands a pass rush and the team as a whole lucks into one or two upset wins. The Golden Flashes are headed for a four-win season. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 106 Old Dominion: ODU is the best first-year Football Bowl Subdivision program in recent history, if that means anything. What the Monarchs do well is move the ball offensively; what they do poorly is play defense. While Old Dominion has the foundation to eventually succeed, the first season is always the hardest. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 105 Wake Forest: First-year coach Dave Clawson is familiar with rebuilding projects, which should come in handy as he takes over for Jim Grobe at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are too young to contend on either side of the ball against the best teams in the ACC, but things might need to get worse before they get better. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 104 Kentucky: The Wildcats’ recruiting efforts yielded one of the nation’s best classes in February, but those incoming freshmen will need at least a season or two to get a taste of the Southeastern Conference. While Kentucky’s future remains bright, Mark Stoops and his staff need at least one more mulligan before being viewed by wins and losses. Look for more of the latter in 2014. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 103 Wyoming: Landing one of the top Football Championship Subdivision coaches in history made this a successful offseason. Whether it’ll be a successful regular season depends on whether or not Craig Bohl can work miracles with this roster. Bohl’s a great hire, but no coach in the country could lead the Cowboys to the top of the Mountain West Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 102 Air Force: A down season led Air Force to recommit itself to competition. That should lead to the best 22 players starting on both sides of the ball, but it won’t be enough to totally overhaul a defense fresh off the worst season in program history. The Falcons should be happy with four or five wins. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 101 Colorado: Colorado’s a four-win team in the Pac-12, one of two in the conference without a realistic hope of reaching bowl eligibility. That’s a negative, but the program’s recent growth points to a bright future. That breakthrough is coming in 2015, however. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 100 SMU: The Mustangs need a jolt of energy after a sluggish 2013 season. Unfortunately, the offense lost its top receivers and the defense is dangerously young in the secondary. Combined, SMU looks like one of the bottom three teams in the American Athletic Conference. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 99 Iowa State: The Mark Mangino-led offense might be good enough to steal an upset during Big 12 play, but the defense ensures another season of nine or more losses for the Cyclones. In total, Iowa State has the league’s worst defense from top to bottom. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 98 Rutgers: This team is going to struggle at first in joining the Big Ten, if only due to a nasty schedule, but the real test will be whether or not the program can regain some footing and eventually challenge for footing in the East Division. When it comes to 2014, the Scarlet Knights are headed for eight losses. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 97 Florida Atlantic: South Florida-raised Charlie Partridge returns to his old stomping grounds with a reputation as a dogged and tireless recruiter of the region's fertile base. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 96 Memphis: The coaching is in place, the losing mentality has been reversed and the roster has been rebuilt, but Memphis remains a year away from ending its long and painful absence from the postseason. One reason is a brutal schedule. Another is the lack of depth nearly across the board, which could cause the Tigers to fall apart if injuries are an issue during the second half. (Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 95 Virginia: This program's defense might be good enough to lead the Cavaliers to four or five wins during the regular season, but a young offense and a general lack of confidence could doom 2014 before the start of ACC play. If UVa does again find itself at or near the bottom of the conference, the university might opt to make a coaching change. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 94 Akron: If no longer the doormat of the Mid-American Conference, Akron remains a season away from reaching bowl eligibility under Coach Terry Bowden. While the Zips have talent and confidence, the lack of experience and depth will be an issue against the better teams on the 2014 schedule. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 92 South Florida: Willie Taggart's blueprint for South Florida has been recruiting, as his latest class doubled as the best in the American Athletic Conference. But the team needs coaching; it needs leadership, conviction and a sense of identity, and it definitely needs a quarterback. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 91 Texas State: Unsatisfied with six wins, Texas State spent the offseason installing an up-tempo offense and a new aggressive style on defense. In the long run, these changes will help the Bobcats get over the hump and contend for the Sun Belt Conference championship. In 2014, however, the Bobcats should struggle in the transition to the new philosophies. (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

No. 90 Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers and Jeff Brohm begin play in Conference USA with a questionable passing game and nine new full-time starters on defense. While the Hilltoppers should be competitive in Conference USA, it should take a year for the program to solve its issues on both sides of the ball. (Photo: Jim Brown, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 89 Arkansas: A dreadful passing game and holes on defense will doom
Arkansas to another losing season. Then there’s the schedule, which ranks among
the most difficult for any team in the country. The Razorbacks need at least
one more year before they make noise in the SEC West Division.
<o:p></o:p> (Photo: Nelson Chenault, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 88 North Carolina State: The Wolfpack is counting on a collection of campus newcomers and a former star recruit turned transfer - Jacoby Brissett - for a turnaround in 2014. (Photo: Rob Kinnan, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 85 Central Michigan:
Running back Saylor Lavallii (6) is one of the reasons the Chippewas are one of the most experienced teams in the MAC. But they also have questions at a number of positions, including quarterback. (Photo: James Guillory, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 84 Illinois:
Running back Donovonn Young (5) and the Fighting Illini tend to be unpredictable in their performance, but they have high hopes that solid quarterbacking will provide a quick reversal of fortune in 2014. (Photo: Bradley Leeb, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 83 Tulsa:
End Brentom Todd and his teammates on the defensive side of the ball may have to carry a little extra load as the Golden Hurricane offense rights itself in 2014. (Photo: Beth Hall, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 82 Nevada:Defensive end Rykeem Yates (55) and the Wolf Pack are aiming for a drastic improvement in run defense in 2014. And a return to the Nevada running game production of the past would help, too. (Photo: Melina Vastola, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 81 Boston College:
Eagles defensive back Sean Sylvia (19) is part of a secondary that needs to click quickly in 2014. But fortunately for B.C. other aspects of its team don't have a lot of questions, just growing expectations. (Photo: Mark Konezny, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 78 West Virginia:
The Mountaineers had a severely disappointing season in 2013, but with players with the talent of cornerback Daryl Worley dotting the roster, a turnaround in 2014 would not be surprising. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 76 San Jose State:
Thomas Tucker (3) and San Jose State have the talent to contend for the Mountain West title, but the Spartans will have to resolve a big question at quarterback get a performance out of its new 4-3 defense that is worthy of its talent. (Photo: Ed Szczepanski, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 70: Middle Tennessee State
The Blue Raiders have perhaps Conference USA's best linebacker in T.T. Barber (38), but they will need to match their efficiency at stopping the run with their new commitment to an offensive run attack. (Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 69 Indiana:
The Hoosiers have an overhauled receiving corps, but its offensive line and backfield led by Tevin Coleman (6) gives Indiana one of the Big Ten's best attacks for 2014. (Photo: Mike Carter, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 67 Minnesota:
Though the Golden Gophers are strong on the run, quarterback Mitch Leidner (7) will need to get the passing game uncorked for the team to maximize its results this season. (Photo: Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 66 Utah:
The Utes are unsettled at many positions, adding value to the steady performance provided by players such as Dres Anderson (6), a 1,000-yard receiver in 2013. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports)

No. 65 North Texas:
Antoinne Jimmerson (22) and teammates Reggie Pegram and Rex Rollins form a stout backfield for the Mean Green, which will rely on them heavily while sorting out its quarterback situation. (Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)